Lets get some creative minds together.....

[Cory]

OK guys, I have gotten pulled over 3 times now for modified exhaust. The third time I got a ticket. Heres how the statue reads in the state of colorado:

Section 4-225:
No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor.

That is word for word under the model traffic code for colorado. I live in the town of Fort Lupton and for some reason I must be getting singled out on this deal.

I have to some how get an exhaust which will quiet down my truck to stock decibel level but still have high flow if possible. Since I cant have my loud *** exhaust, is there anyway I could make my truck louder from the engine compartment? Increase turbo noise??

I have been seriously thinking about a cut-out, but those are illegal also.

I just need some creative ideas on this situation.

Thanks Guys, I appreciate it.

 

[CBrahs]

I have MBRP 5 inch turbo back on mine. It is still a bit louder than stock but not near as loud as a straight pipe.

 

[JStieger]

I have a straight pipe with BD twins and it is quieter than when I had a SPS 62 or 66 turbo with 4" straight-through muffler.

 

[CBrabec]

A lot of people talk about the Donaldson 51" muffler. They say it's as close to stock sound w/o the restriction. Give that a try.

 

[Cory]

Any one else?

 

[16919]

Stick a megaphone in the engine compartmen!!! Seriously though, put a false muffler on it. source automotive sells them. If you get stoped they can check it to prove you have one. If they still give you crap tell them you bought it used and it came that way. what weight rating do you have the truck registered at? Diesels here in mo are exempt from emissions and all that other garbage.

 

[Cory]

Its not an emissions problem. Its a noise problem.

No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor.

 

[bighammer]

Its not an emissions problem. Its a noise problem.

No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor.

Tell them a monkey did it. :-laf

 

[JHardwick]

Its not an emissions problem. Its a noise problem.



No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor.

I ran a "hollow" OE muffler for 150,000 miles or so. To look at it, it was a completely stock system. I just sliced off the rear end plate in a 10" band saw, torched out all of the plates holding the baffles and welded the end plate back on. It sounded pretty darn good too, but the input nipple finally let loose of the muffler and I just straight piped it.

 

[nickleinonen]

No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor

technically, engine is the proper term. . [loophole maybe?]



[but saying something along those lines to a cop or judge will get you in more trouble eh?]



you've got several motors on your truck [abs pump, fuel lift pump. starter motor, cabin blower motor... ] but they are all pretty quiet

 

[KParsons]

digital sound meter

hi, if you get a sound meter you will be able to check the decibel rating at the right distance. Each state has a different spec. you might find that your truck is under the limit. at least you will be able to work with the dmv spec. the meter is 50-70$ . just an idea. kp

 

[Cattletrkr]

Since you already got caught and ticketed, your only option is gonna be to put a stock system back on. That statute doesn't say anything about simply needing a muffler, it says you can't make it any louder than stock.



I like KParson's idea of a sound meter to prove it meets specs, but they still got ya on the muffler swap if they want to.



Were you doing anything to make a lot of noise that you got caught? Just wondering how that law can be enforced so selectively when it seems to cover everyone.



Nevermind. Here's your out. The statute says, "No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor. " You can argue that the exhaust DOES NOT change the "noise emitted by the motor. " It only changes the "noise emitted" by the exhaust. Actual "under the hood" noise doen't change. Does that make any sense to anyone else?

 

[DBoggs]

How much is the fine if you don't mind telling us? Perhaps if it isn't much and it's not going against your license, you could just pay it and tell them to go blow... thats just me though. I'm really tired of these petty, stupid laws that single out us diesel truck owners and drivers.



Duane

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Your signature shows you have no muffler right now. Put on a Walker or Donaldson, etc. and the noise will probably be reduced enough to satisfy the police. If the muffler is straight through, it won't help "enough" at full power, but will help cruising in town, and won't hurt power.

 

[CSkal]

hi, if you get a sound meter you will be able to check the decibel rating at the right distance. Each state has a different spec. you might find that your truck is under the limit. at least you will be able to work with the dmv spec. the meter is 50-70$ . just an idea. kp#ad

Cory:

Did the officer check the sound level with a meter, or are they just saying the truck sounds louder? If there was no meter check (documentable prrof), how can someone justify a ticket? I won the lottery, I'm rich, I just don't have the proof! Oh well, bye bye money!#ad


I bet the officer that gave you the ticket doesn't even know what the specs are for: 1) a stock truck, and 2) the db spec limits for the municipality that the ticket was issued in.

Do you have to go to court?

 

[RustyJC]

Did the officer check the sound level with a meter, or are they just saying the truck sounds louder? If there was no meter check (documentable prrof), how can someone justify a ticket? I won the lottery, I'm rich, I just don't have the proof! Oh well, bye bye money!#ad




I bet the officer that gave you the ticket doesn't even know what the specs are for: 1) a stock truck, and 2) the db spec limits for the municipality that the ticket was issued in.



Do you have to go to court?

If the officer looked under the truck and saw no muffler, he has prima facie evidence that the exhaust has been modified -

Section 4-225:

No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor.

- and it's obvious that such a modification (i. e. , removing the muffler) will increase external noise. According to the statute cited, he doesn't need a meter.



Rusty

 

[Diesel Nut]

WOuldn't happen to be the same cop giving you tickets would it?



Sounds like someones got it out for ya. I have twins and no muffler an 5" stacks and the cops don't even give me a second look around here.

 

[CSkal]

So what about an exhaust brake? That is a modification to the exhaust that could possibly make it (the exhaust) louder.

What about when the modification takes place? There is no language that states factory exhaust.

One other thing, we all know what they say about assumptions (no muffler=more noise is an assumption, unproven); they are the mother of all ... .

Removal of the muffler may not increase the amount of sound emitted, only the frequency. How does that figure into the statute?

I'm not trying to be a jerk, just trying to be a creative mind !

 

[RustyJC]

You're not dealing with engineers here - it's "obvious" to the officer and the traffic court judge that removing a muffler (a device that muffles the exhaust, as its name indicates) will make the truck louder. This is an open-and-shut case.



Rusty

 

[Cory]

It is the same officer pulling me over. I dont speed or make attention to myself in town. Its a female officer and she never did once crawl underneath my truck to check the exhaust system. I put stock muffler back on, and got a letter from the dealer saying my truck has factory exhaust system components including the Cat and the muffler. There is no dB ordinance in my town. This is just making my business look bad when I keep getting pulled over and harassed by the cops when I have ULTIMATE DIESEL all over the side of my truck. I talked to the police cheif yesterday because I now feel it is harassment and he told me its not. "I think my officer is doing you a favor by giving you 2 warnings to fix your vehicle"

But yes, I am going to go to court on this one, because I have a strong case and also if I bet the law enforcement in court, they will quit pulling me over for exhaust.